06/01/2026
🔗 https://go.sunlandnews.com/60126
Downtown Fort Pierce is enforcing two-hour parking limits starting this morning, June 1st, and the city hired two new part-time parking enforcement specialists to make it stick.
When it applies: Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., in designated spots throughout downtown.
Where the two-hour limits apply:
Marina Way between U.S. 1 and the City Marina
Orange Avenue between U.S. 1 and the oceanfront
Atlantic Avenue between Second Street and Melody Lane
North Depot Drive between Marina Way and Orange Avenue
Second Street from Avenue D to Citrus Avenue
South Indian River Drive between Marina Way and Citrus Avenue
Melody Lane between the City Marina and Boston Avenue
Free unrestricted parking is still available in lots between Avenue H and Boston Avenue east of City Hall, plus two parking garages behind City Hall and next to the St. Lucie County Courthouse.
What a ticket will cost you:
First offense: $50 if paid within 30 days
Second offense: $100 if paid within 30 days
Three or more offenses: mandatory special magistrate hearing, possible immobilization or towing if you owe $150 or more in delinquent citations
Handicapped parking violations start at $250
Worth noting: The two-hour limit has technically been on the books since around 2008, but with only one part-time enforcement specialist from 2018 to mid-2025 the rules were rarely enforced consistently.
What downtown businesses are saying: Reactions are split. Some owners say customers can never find parking because employees take all the spaces early in the morning. Others say two hours is not enough, particularly for restaurants, spas, and service businesses where visits naturally run longer. Workers on long shifts are raising concerns about having to park in the garage, with at least one employee citing safety concerns walking to the garage at night.
What's next: The city says it will use parking data and community feedback to assess future parking initiatives.
